The Minnesota Timberwolves looked drained. As they ran up and down the floor, players went through the motions but the effort wasn’t there. You could hardly blame them. The buildup to Ricky Rubio’s return had hit his teammates just like it had an excitable Target Center crowd. They were waiting, too.

It went on like this for most of the first quarter in the Timberwolves’ 114-106 overtime victory Saturday night over the Dallas Mavericks—until the wait was finally over. Rubio entered the game with 1:47 left in the period, his left leg heavily wrapped to protect a knee that underwent surgery on March 21 to repair tears in the anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments.

Rubio's time on the court was brief. Of course, you wouldn’t know that from the numbers. Rubio played 18 minutes, in which he scored eight points and dished nine assists. He also added four rebounds and three steals in a performance he had waited for since March 9, the day he suffered the injury that ended his rookie season.

“I worked out every single day since I got hurt, and today was a great day,” Rubio said in a postgame interview with WFTC-TV. “I just want to say thank you to everybody who helped me.”

Once Rubio got into the swing of the game, there was a definite change in his teammates. For all his skill and ability, the most important part of Rubio’s return might be the spark he provides by just being on the floor.

Minnesota is trying to become a playoff contender in the West without the talent of an Oklahoma City or the savvy of a Memphis. In order for this to happen, it must have that something extra. Rubio’s energy could serve that purpose.

Minnesota has talent. But it also has a tendency to compete and retreat in spells. The Wolves’ hot 5-2 start was followed by a small slump that left them at 6-8 and staring at an injury report nearly as populated as the active roster. Then came its current streak of six wins in seven games, for which Rubio is now there.

Rubio will need to keep producing a spark similar to what he brought Saturday if the Wolves are to sustain themselves through those injuries and Kevin Love’s complaints about his worth to the franchise.

Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman is aware of this. With Love out because of flu-like symptoms and a thumb injury, with the Wolves' game-long lead down to a point, 95-94, Adelman went to Rubio.

Rubio didn’t outrun or overpower anyone, but he managed to outthink one of the headier players in the game. He baited Derek Fisher into two fouls and ended Fisher's best night with the Mavericks. Fisher had 20 points on 5-of-8 shooting before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Those fouls also offered Rubio some needed assurance. On the first foul, he became entangled with Fisher and took a spill near the scorer’s table. He jumped right to his feet. Rubio needed to know he could take a hit. Perhaps he had already taken some in the two weeks he spent in practice, but Rubio’s first real fall in a game ended without him walking with any noticeable limp.

He wasn’t perfect. Rubio had two turnovers and struggled to move his feet and maneuver through ball screens on defense with that bulky brace on his knee.

“Still a little bit lost,” Rubio said of how he felt on the court. “It’s been nine months. It’s a long time.”

Still, Rubio showed just how dependable he could be if there are no setbacks. Although he missed out on the perfect ending when his 3-point attempt didn’t fall with three seconds left in regulation, Rubio made the plays that set the Wolves up for overtime, in which they would outscore the Mavericks, 12-4.

Rubio didn’t play in OT; he had proven enough in Day 1 of his comeback. The spark he provided was enough to carry the Wolves through the rest of the night. Their wait was over.